“Give me Troy Deeney and it is a different game, as simple as that,” the current Forest boss said. “I’m an honest guy; we had the chances, their keeper made the saves, our spirit was there and our energy was there and we kept going against a fantastic team. In the end the difference was they were more ruthless. They took their three chances.”

The game at the City Ground ended 3-1, with goals from Odion Ighalo, Matthew Connolly and Almen Abdi keeping the Hornets in the promotion race.

Despite Freedman's claims that Deeney would improve his team, the English forward failed to find the back of the net, although his 20 goals this season still make him one on the best Championship forwards.

Despite securing a 3-1 victory, the Hornets were under real pressure after going two goals up and claiming a man advantage after Kelvin Wilson was sent off. Gary Gardner netted in the middle of the second half, and it was only Adbi’s late strike which eased fears of a potential draw.

Forest registered an impressive 22 shots, and it was only the work of Heurelho Gomes in the Watford goal that prevented Freedman’s men finding the back of the net.

Britt Assombalonga’s injury is making him a vital loss in the team, and none of his replacements are truly up to scratch.

If Freedman could call upon a 20-goal-a-season striker like Deeney, it is hard to deny that Forest would be real promotion contenders.

Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.